Canada continues to import Dog/Cat fur products from China….this must end. Enough blood is on the hands of Canada, between the horrific continued Seal Slaughter (Canada negotiating deal with China for seal products which resulted in Animal Welfare protests by some Chinese citizens); Canada imports US mustangs into this country for slaughter in Canadian death houses; dog breeder in Canada breeds beagles to send to research labs, Quebec puppy mills raided, 100’s of dogs rescued and put down; kitten mills thrive, wild horses in Alberta being murdered; retired race horses going to Quebec slaughter houses; not to mention sport hunting; not to mention Factory Farm animals being burned alive due to failure to ensure safety measures; dogs/cats being abandoned, tortured, discarded like trash…..

Well for at least one Province int this country, Action Speaks Louder than words!!!!

We are all aware of the horrific brutality inflicted on the 100 sled dogs in Whistler, B.C. These dogs, faithful money making servants were summarily shot and in some cases had their throats brutally slashed. Why, because the economy had taken a decline and the owner and operator of this particular business felt the animals were of no more use. This case only came to light when the individual who did not say NO when told by the owner to kill these beautiful faithful dogs, applied to Workers Compensation claiming he was suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

The province of British Columbia stepped up, and toughened their Animal Protection Laws.

Koodoos.

Now for the second year in a row, B.C. has approved and made this Proclamation in honor of those 100 Whistler dogs.

WHEREAS The Province of British Columbia recognizes that the health, safety and well being of all animals is vital, and

WHEREAS The Province of British Columbia leads the country with the toughest penalties for anyone proven responsible for harming an animal, and

WHEREAS The Province of British Columbia believes that the prevention of cruelty to animals is a matter of humanity and not just a matter of legislation, and

WHEREAS by working together and sharing information on how to prevent, recognize, and report signs of animal abuse, we can help protect all animals from abuse and neglect, and

WHEREAS Our Lieutenant Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council, has been pleased to enact Order in Council 903 on October 11, 2002;

NOW KNOW YE THAT we do by these presents proclaim and declare that April 23, 2012 shall be known as

“ANIMAL ABUSE PREVENTION DAY”

(in honour of the lost lives of 100 sled dogs on April 23, 2010)

in the Province of British Columbia.

The Municipality of Wood Buffalo in Alberta has also Stepped UP and have made their own Proclamation: double click picture to enlarge for easier reading.

Having fought so hard myself for over three years for animal protection laws within the NWT, there remains a great deal yet to be done. The new NWT Dog Act contains a potentially deadly loophole which MLA and now Minister David Ramsay is quoted as describing “big enough to drive a truck through”. The new NWT Dog Act pertains solely to dogs period and does not protect any other domestic pet. Not the Comprehensive Animal Protection Act that I fought so hard for. It must be noted that the motion did pass in the Legislative Assembly that the Territorial Government is to keep working forward to enact Comprehensive Animal Protection which already exists across the rest of Canada.

A number of years ago, due to a horrific incident involving many dogs in the Yukon, the Yukon chose to strengthen their own Animal Protection Legislation. Now with the news that a well known Yukon Musher is planning to ACT in a proactive manner to toughen protection of Sled Dogs in the Yukon, it is evident that perhaps the new Yukon Legislation of a few years ago was not strong enough.

Clearly animal cruelty is and will remain an International focus, on so many levels one cannot even fathom. Every second of every single day, an animal is being horrifically neglected, abused and exploited at the hands of a human. Says a lot about the human species does it not? From the starving neglected dogs left on chains, animals tortured and butchered for the sheer sick pleasure that some even sicker individual gets out of inflicting such pain, to the dog fighting rings that provide an illegal income to the cruel and greedy, the puppy and kitten mills run by the totally insensitive mass breeders, to those breeders whose sole goal is to make money from research companies, to the Factory Farm Animals, Battery Hens and roadside zoos that fail to provide proper care and the necessities of life to the animals that they derive income from.

The list goes on and on. I will not even cite other instances such as those that take place in China or on the frozen coasts of Canada.

A challenge to the rest of Canada, to the remaining Provinces and Territories across this vast and magnificent land is being made right now.

Follow the lead of British Columbia!!!

Put forward your own Provincial and Territorial Proclamation in honor and memory of the thousands of animals brutalized every day,

the thousands of animals that die in shelters because they have been discarded by others!!!!

In honor of the innocent lives taken because existing Municipal, Provincial and Federal Legislation is not

tough enough, does not do enough to end the suffering and to bring those responsible to Justice.

Pictures received from the Beaufort Delta Regional SPCA in Inuvik, NT. No charges laid, no animals survived.

Picture of dead pup submitted by a resident of Hay River, NT. Decaying body was found by the river in Town.

It is Time!!!

Zero Tolerance to Animal Cruelty across Every Municipality, Every Province, Every Territory in Canada!!!

“ A dying puppy found in a garbage bin outside of a downtown bar last week was euthanized Monday evening at Great Slave Animal Hospital.”

Named Olive, this 8 to 10 week old female husky cross was found near death, after being found “curled up in the corner (of the garbage).” The pups whimpers were heard outside the Raven Pub located in Yellowknife and a passerby came to her rescue.

Veterinary Assistant Jenna McCrendle stated that it was possible that Olive had also suffered internal damage from some form of physical trauma, possibly a kick or other trauma. Olive was unable to ingest food or water and was incapable of moving on her own.

Olive who was seriously anemic met a humane death Monday, due only to the fact that Chris Blais took her to the GSAH. It had been a freind of Chris’s who had found the pup and Chris upon seeing her took her himself to the hospital. Had this young man not taken this action, Olive’s suffering would have continued. Special thanks must also go to Chris’s friend who found the pup and took her home with him.

A second pup was also turned in to the GSAH on Friday and was suffering from a “large abscess on his lower jaw”. “Teddy Ruxpin” as he was named, has been treated, is doing well and is now ready for adoption.

Puppies, dogs, cats and kittens across the NWT continue to be neglected, discarded, thrown out in the trash despite the new NWT Dog Act which came into effect Spring 2011. The new Dog Act is supposed to protect Dogs Only….obviously legislation is not worth the paper it is written on when incidents such as this continue to happen. There is no protection whatsoever for felines or any other neglected pet in the NWT. A Comprehensive Animal Protection Act, one which I have been fighting for over three years now, MUST be implemented. Named ‘Best Place to Abuse Animals’ by the Animal Legal Defense Fund for three consecutive years, this recent incident of “Olive” and “Teddy Ruxpin” reinforces this dubious distinction.

Today, it is, with windchill -20 celcius which translates into -52 farenheit. Knowing that there are likely many more discarded pups, dogs, cats and kittens ‘out there’ left to freeze and starve to death not only breaks my own heart, but it breaks the heart and enrages anyone who actually has a conscience.

Out of the three major cases of Animal Cruelty in the NT during 2010 – 2011 there has only been two successful prosecutions made in the NWT , both of which were in Yellowknife this past Spring. Well known Yellowknife musician Lloyd Thrasher received a jail term for the stabbing death of “Garlic” the tiny Chinese Pug which he stole out of Vanessa Baron’s vehicle: http://giftofloki.wordpress.com/2011/06/02/garlic-the-chinese-pug-brutally-stabbed-in-yellowknife-nt-january-2011-gets-some-form-of-justice/ and the second case involved “Yuki”, the sole surviving puppy rescued when RCMP were called to investigate a mother dog who had just given birth to puppies was reported dead with her pups in a yard. Mother and pups were found frozen to death. The mother had been pushed out into sub-zero temperatures by her owner when she went into labor. “Yuki” did survive but suffered frostbite and lost part of her tiny nose. Additional dogs were found on very short chains and in a neglected state:

The third case brought before the courts and which took over a year to finally go to trial was the Hobson case involving 109 dogs, in Hay River, three of which were immediately humanely euthanized by attending veterinarians from Alberta who participated in the property raid on May 29, 2010. Five charges were laid in this case.

Twenty-three pups were seized and taken to the Municipally owned Hay River Animal Shelter where volunteers cared for them for two and a half months. The other 83 dogs were left on the property of the accused in the care of the accused and it was publically stated that Municipal officials would be monitoring the dogs care. Mid August 2010 22 of the seized pups were ordered destroyed by the Municipal Authorities despite offers to assist in the relocation of these pups aged between 2 and 12 months had been made numerous times. The one surviving pup LOKI who escaped the shelter twice in June, remains a stray and has been cared for by myself personally since last October. LOKI also receives food from many of my own neighbors, and has thus far eluded all attempts being made by the By Law Officer to capture him. It must be noted that the method by which the 22 puppies were destroyed remains a big secret to which no one, not even the Animal Alliance of Canada, can get answers.

Despite the evidence provided and the testimonies, in this case the courts dropped numerous charges and in the end the verdict was Not Guilty.

In 2008 the Behchoko case whereby 44 sled dogs owned by a reknown Dene artist Archie Beaulieu had to be humanely put down due to severe neglect resulted in charges under the Federal Criminal Code, however the courts stayed these charges and these 44 neglected dogs did not get the Justice they deserved.

Again in Behchoko six puppies were found in a town dumpster with their tiny throats slashed, again in sub-zero temperatures. Taken to the GSAH only one of these pups survived. No charges were ever laid in this case.

The Pokiak case in Tuktoyatuk is also another perfect example whereby sled dogs met with neglect, death and the failure of authorities to prosecute or to seize the two surviving sled dogs, despite all attempts made by the BDRSPCA as well as PETA.

The new NWT Dog Act is merely the First Step, it is not the Comprehensive Animal Protection Act which I have been fighting for, but it is a Victory and it also is a historical event in the NWT. The motion did carry in the Legislative Assembly to continue working towards the Comprehensive Animal Protection Act, a good thing one would say, however until such time as cases of Animal Neglect/Cruelty are successfully prosecuted, until such time as very real educational programs are put in place to change the apparent mindset of so many towards ‘disposable’ animals; until such time as spay/neuter blitzes are set in place; until such time as qualified highly trained Animal Cruelty Investigators are established within the NWT; until such time as needed animal shelter facilities are built and supported not only by volunteers and resident donations but also the Territorial Government; until such time as there is an expansion of much needed veterinary services within the NWT……..puppies, dogs, cats and kittens will continue to be subjected to prolonged suffering, starvation, freezing to death, slashing of throats and gunshot:

With the Territorial Elections now over and GNWT Officials now back to work, it is time to once again put pressure on this government to fulfill the motion carried in the 16th Session to continue working towards a Comprehensive Animal Protection Act, one without the current potentially deadly loophole that was opposed by MLA’s and so many NWT residents.

Six a.m. comes very early on a weekend, when one should be able to catch up on sleep..sleeping in is not an option for me. 6 a.m. on a weekend for me, means getting up, preparing LOKI’s hearty warm breakfast, and going outside with long coat over fleecy pj’s, trudging through backyard snow and refilling his water dish (now frozen) with fresh drinking water, all the while patiently calling to him..standing out in the cold, hoping that he can hear me and anxiously waiting for his arrival. During the work week this whole process is repeated, only I must rise at least a 1/2 hour earlier so that I will still have time to get ready for work. Often times he will not come right away, so I must keep my bedroom window open while getting ready for the office so that I can hear him and be prepared to jump up and head out to him.

Yesterday morning saw him arrive around 6:30 and this morning he showed up about 7:45 a.m. It was cold, and he was covered in ice crystals. With temps on the decline and winter now ahead of all of us, I do not look forward to this long winter. Last year I sat outside in my driveway or on my deck in sub zero temps, winds blowing, freezing my hands and excuse the reference..my butt, at all hours of the mornings and nights ensuring that LOKI received warm nourishing meals to get him through the long frigid winter days and nights.

Nothing has changed and I will continue to do just that. I will continue to do what I have been doing for over a year, protecting him, caring for him and loving him.

Twice in the last two weeks I have witnessed the Town By-Law Officer attempting to capture LOKI, once with Net Gun in hand. True LOKI is technically a Stray and under the Hay River By-Laws of which I am well versed, By-Law is just doing his job. Having contacted the Town of Hay River authorities numerous times concerning LOKI I finally did get a written response for the Towns new SAO…. in my reply to this response I have requested: copied and pasted from my email:

“I do understand that By-Law is doing his job in trying to capture LOKI. That being said…..I am requesting, in writing, a written guarantee that if LOKI is captured that I be immediately notified. A written guarantee that he will be taken to the shelter,he will not be destroyed secretly as were the 22 pups, and that I will be called in, and that I be given the time necessary to obtain and set up a portable dog run for him on my property. That I will be allowed to license him, just as my own two dogs are already licensed. That during his stay at the shelter while I am preparing for his needs here at home, that I be the person who cares for and works with him while he is at the shelter.”

This being Sunday I have not yet received a response.

I also submitted to Town Officials a deposition attesting to the gentle non-aggressive nature of LOKI which has been signed by many who have come to know and love LOKI. Included with this deposition are the comments I received by email and through FaceBook from persons who support LOKI and my continued work with him. This deposition came about due to an allegation made against LOKI which I believe to be a case of mistaken identity. That being said I also provided the Municipal Authorities a video which I took in my own backyard of another dog that could be LOKI’s twin proving beyond any shadow of a doubt that there are other dogs in this town that could be mistaken for him.

LOKI is very special, being the sole survivor of the 23 pups rescued in the Hay River Animal Cruelty Case, raid took place May 29, 2010…(109 dogs involved) 3 of which were immediately put down for humane reasons. This case took over a year to finally go to trial and despite the evidence, all five charges were dropped.

The 23 pups aged between 2 months and one year, were held and cared for by shelter volunteers at the Muncipally owned shelter for 2 1/2 months, before being secretly removed and destroyed in mid August 2010. Despite the numerous offers I made to assist in relocating these pups to properly run facilities outside the NT where they would have received proper rehab from highly qualified professional specialist, my offers were summarily ignored.

LOKI escaped the Municipal shelter the first time in mid June 2010, he was recaptured and thankfully again escaped prior to the other 22 pups being destroyed, the method of destruction has yet to be discovered and consequently rumors abound as there is no resident vet in this town. This last escape is the act that saved LOKI’s life. As the sole survivor LOKI is extremely special, he is precious…he is also a reminder of what took place here. That being said, the importance of keeping him healthy and safe cannot be overstated. His will to survive against all odds is an inspiration in itself, this gentle spirit more than deserves a chance at a loving forever home, free from stress, free from harassment, free from fear, free from frigid temperatures.

My work with LOKI, my commitment and devotion to LOKI, if anything continues to grow stronger, my determination is un-waivering, should he be captured I will have to deal with that if and when it happens. The trust shared between he and I continues to grow, our time together, our journey will continue.

It has been mentioned to me time and again that LOKI’s story needs to be published in a well established publication, and an offer has been made to me from a dear friend and accomplished journalist to assist me in doing just that. Certainly I have enough Blog posts, pictures and videos upon which I can resource to pull this all together. I am happy to say that I am going to do this. LOKI’s full story needs to be told, he is a remarkable animal.

In addition, I am seriously contemplating a larger project, that of writing a book on the the trials and conflicts I have experienced as an Animal Rights Advocate/Activist from Ontario now living in the Northwest Territories.

As my readers know, my three year battle with the Territorial Government resulted in an historic event this Spring, the passing and Enactment of the new NWT Dog Act. This first major victory remains far from the Comprehensive Animal Protection Act that I continue to fight for. The good news is that the Legisaltive Assembly did pass the motion towards continuing work for Comprehensive Animal Protection.

Again, I most certainly have enough Blog Posts, evidenciary pictures and accounts of the decades of animal neglect and cruelty, newspaper clipping as well as records of published accounts of such cruelty that failed to be prosecuted.

Each and everyone of us, who continue the never ending battle to end horrific animal cruelty, can identify with the extreme frustration and heartbreak involved. We can all identify with the phone calls and emails received on a daily basis. We can identify with the personal sacrifices each of us make, taking time away from our families, our homes and yes even our own pets, spending money we really don’t have to spend so that one more will be cared for properly. I would say that we are definitely a Breed Apart, we are unique in our commitment and our devotion and we are as described by one such individual “‘a silent army'”that keeps growing and for that I shall be forever grateful.

To all of you who have supported my fight for Animal Protection the Northwest Territories I sincerely Thank You.

To all of you who follow the journey which LOKI and I have embarked upon, all of you who support LOKI and my ongoing work with him, I thank you and I am ever so grateful.

I know that this beautiful boy is grateful as well.

From the bottom of both our hearts…..This video contains a special message as well as my own fears

In a prior post this writer brought to the attention of readers just how specific MLA’s and GNWT Ministers actually voted regarding the deadly loophole within the new NWT Dog Act.

This question has now been posted on the NWT Elections facebook page:

Question to All Candidates: After my three years of battling the Territorial Govt for a Comprehensive Animal Protection Act and drawing Ministerial attention to the facts pertaining to the direct Link Between Animal Cruelty and Human Violence, as well as the statistics that the NWT has the highest rate of Violent Crime per capita than anywhere else in Canada; given the protest to remove the reworded deadly loophole in the new NWT Dog Act, which a number of GNWT Ministers actually voted to keep in, going against many of their constituents, and thereby outnumbering the MLA’s who wanted it removed; and given the fact the NWT remains listed as“Best Place to Abuse Animals” and now for the third year in a row by the Animal Legal Defense Fund; given that the motion carried In the Legislative Assembly to continue working towards the Comprehensive Animal Protection Act that I wanted in the first place : Which of you, as candidates plan to keep the NWT in the Dark Ages and refuse to bring into effect very real Comprehensive Animal Protection that will live up to the standards as set across the rest of Canada? Which of you as candidates will focus on bringing the NWT into the real world and push for Comprehensive Animal Protection that will live up to or even surpass the legislation standards as set by the rest of Canada? What will any of you do to ensure that properly trained Animal Cruelty Investigators are established? What will any of you do to improve veterinary services and accessibility across the NWT? What will any of you do to expand the current Sahtu Program? What if anything will any of you do to draw needed attention and focus to the fact that that neglected, abused and suffering animal chained in someone’s backyard may be indicative of potential domestic abuse and violence within that family home?

Below you will find out just how your MLA’s and Ministers actually voted: just go to the link provided:

MLA’S WHO VOTED AGAINST THE KEEPING OF REWORDED POTENTIALLY DEADLY LOOPHOLE IN THE NEW NWT DOG ACT

“A very special thank you to the MLA’s who had the courage to speak out against the decades of unabated, unprosecuted animal cruelty prevalent across the Northwest Territories.”

“Mr. David Ramsay, Mr. Robert Bromley, Mr. Paul Delorey, Ms. Jane Groenewegen, Ms. Wendy Bisaro, Mr. Beaulieu, Mr. Hawkins and Mr. Jacobson. Thank you also to Mr. Paul Delorey, MLA Hay River North and Speaker of the House (not present for vote) but who was the first MLA to actually sit down and discuss and address this issue with me personally in 2008.”

In my ever increasing attempts to keep Loki safe until he chooses to enter my home as a loved family member, I have put his videos on YouTube. Now everyone can see for themselves this beautiful gentle boy.

We had yet more rain, much needed,the night before last, last night and again today. Wildfires have broken out in Wood Buffalo National Park and elsewhere….it is very dry so the rain is welcome…unfortunately lightning strikes cause ignition and new fires start. Ironically the Boreal Forest depends upon wildfires, some trees have seed pods that will only open when exposed to flame, but more on that later.

My trek across the ravine last evening and again tonight was a slip as you go, get one of your boots sucked off in the mud type of excursion …but worth every step…muddy sock and all. I feel confident that the Bulldogs, mosquitoes and other hungry dive bombers quite enjoyed the blood meal I provided for them. Poor LOKI had a heck of a time as the Bulldogs (similar to horseflies but a lot bigger) were attempting to feast on his nose. Of course the notorious, will take a chunk out of you, Pine Beetles are on the warpath too. Nasty black big beetles with long legs, really long curly antenia that help them get in and stay in your hair (hence the local nickname ‘Hair Eaters’) as they munch away on your scalp.

Still we both got through it, he enjoyed a warm meal, his fave cookies and a special treat …a Bully Stick! My beautiful boy has been leading me deeper into the thickets lately and of course I am eager to follow.

Wanting me to follow him

What are you waiting for, come on!!

That’s much better, I was hungry. What, he says, is on tonight’s menu? Smells good. Hey there is even my fave dessert too!!

How we started the evening, till I followed him to where he wanted

I continue to be awestruck at the trust that has grown, how he runs to greet me with sheer enthusiasm. I took my first really good video of him tonight, albeit a short one because I am new at filming…but there will be more to come. You can view the video on the FB Group: Action for the Protection of Northern Animals. This is an Open Group and you are welcome to join. There is also a Causes Group of the same name and members are growing in numbers.

Hopefully I will soon be able to load videos I take onto this Blog…a little technical issue at the moment.

My sincerest hope by going public about LOKI is to keep him safe until he decides to join my family. I’ve been working with him since October 2010 and given his first few years of life, knowing what they were, I know that only time, patience and love will make this happen. Our time together is so very precious, and LOKI MATTERS!!!

This extremely gentle soul has become so much a part of me now that I am unable to even remotely put into words what he means to me.